The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is undertaking a pre-consultation review of its ‘Criteria’ and ‘Procedures’ for its ‘Prescription of Qualifications’ – which ‘ensure that individuals hold appropriate qualifications and practical training experience’ – though current criteria specific to the historic environment covers only ‘Historic buildings legislation’, and with the pre-consultation closing 2 October.

The ARB writes:

Our Criteria and Procedures reviewsIn line with Section 4(1)a of the Architects Act 1997, the Board is responsible for determining what qualifications and practical training experience are required for entry to the Register under the UK route to registration. In order to ensure that individuals hold appropriate qualifications and practical training experience on entry to the Register, the Board has established a prescription process for recognising qualifications and experience as well as Criteria which must be met at the appropriate level. The Criteria set out the standards, attributes, knowledge, understanding and abilities that individuals must have met before at the end of each level. The Criteria are therefore important in terms of assuring the users and potential users of architects’ services that individuals who are on the Register have the appropriate minimum levels of skills and expertise. The Criteria also provide information to students and institutions in terms of the areas that must be met in order to demonstrate competence to enter the Register…

The Board has recently agreed to undertake cyclical reviews of its Criteria for the Prescription of Qualifications and the Procedures for the Prescription of Qualifications.

In order to do this we are establishing two separate Task and Finish Groups, consisting of technical experts, to lead on these reviews. The first task that the Groups have been charged with is gathering information and feedback about our current Criteria and Procedures.

Further information about the current Criteria and Procedures can be found here: